Inefficient appliances could be leading to higher energy bills

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Household appliances might not be performing at the standards manufacturers claim they are, leading to higher fuel bills, according to new research.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) tested a number of household appliances to prove the claims made about energy efficiency on the label.

It is estimated that by employing simple energy-saving measures households could save households hundreds of pounds each year.

Out of all the appliances tested, washer dryers performed the worst with 16 of the 24 failing to reach the standard on the label. Ovens performed the best with 23 out of 24 reaching the energy efficiency claims on the label.

Environment minister Dan Norris said: "When people buy a new household appliance, they need to be confident that if it says it is energy efficient, it will live up to those standards. Many more people are now ensuring that the products they buy will use less energy and therefore will reduce both their carbon footprint and their fuel bill."

Energy efficient light bulbs have been named as a simple way to reduce your home energy usage and receive cheaper gas and electricity bills. Defra found that despite labels being a mandatory requirement for bulbs, some didn't have them.

Consumer group Which? recommends using a price comparison site to compare suppliers and find cheaper gas and electricity.

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